Good morning, gentle readers, and welcome to Monday, February 26, 2024!
I know, I know, I know ... not so loud, am I right? It's Monday, for Pete's sake! Take it down a notch.
Well, yes, it is Monday, but it's yet one more great day to be alive, folks, and I think that's cause for celebration. Get up. Get out of bed. Get to it. Get to work. Buckle down. Make the most of it. You'll be a better person for it, no matter if you think otherwise.
Now, not a lot to report on the homefront this morning. It was a reasonably quiet weekend, so far as activities are concerned, but that doesn't mean I left anything out. I'm on the tail end of a sinus bug -- pretty much the same thing that seems to be going around out there -- and it definitely slowed me down just a tick. Meds helped -- along with a bit of extra sleep here and there -- so let's be thankful for that as well. I did manage to squeeze in a small handful of video screenings over the weekend, and I'm going to make my best attempt to get a few reviews up today. Keep your fingers crossed and your eyes on this space as I'll have plenty to say about them when the time is right.
Otherwise ... I think that's the most of the personal bits. Let's get down to the real business On This Day In Science Fiction History, shall we?
I know, I know, I know ... not so loud, am I right? It's Monday, for Pete's sake! Take it down a notch.
Well, yes, it is Monday, but it's yet one more great day to be alive, folks, and I think that's cause for celebration. Get up. Get out of bed. Get to it. Get to work. Buckle down. Make the most of it. You'll be a better person for it, no matter if you think otherwise.
Now, not a lot to report on the homefront this morning. It was a reasonably quiet weekend, so far as activities are concerned, but that doesn't mean I left anything out. I'm on the tail end of a sinus bug -- pretty much the same thing that seems to be going around out there -- and it definitely slowed me down just a tick. Meds helped -- along with a bit of extra sleep here and there -- so let's be thankful for that as well. I did manage to squeeze in a small handful of video screenings over the weekend, and I'm going to make my best attempt to get a few reviews up today. Keep your fingers crossed and your eyes on this space as I'll have plenty to say about them when the time is right.
Otherwise ... I think that's the most of the personal bits. Let's get down to the real business On This Day In Science Fiction History, shall we?
As the saying goes, sometimes you have to take the good with the bad, and you couldn't get any worse than the Walt Disney Company's adaptation of the much revered Fantasy Classic A Wrinkle In Time, a real piece of cinematic stinkery that was first unveiled on this day back in 2018.
This big budget miscalculation from the Mouse House gave an entire roster of A-list talent to have egg on their faces, and maybe -- just maybe -- such failures are needed from time-to-time to remind both the makers and the would-be watchers that it ain't as easy as pie assembling the usual fare. From what I can recall in the press, it might be safe to suggest that this was the first true D.E.I. attempt behind-the-scenes, and perhaps critical darling Ava DuVernay shouldn't have been the first choice to helm such a daunting adventure. Google.com estimates that the film lost Disney somewheres upwards of $130 million while tarnishing the screen reputations of Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and Chris Pine along the way ... and one might think someone would've noticed what a disaster this was before it hit screens.
No, no, and no: yours truly has not seen it, so I cannot attest to any of the film's highs and lows, but I'll also admit I've no real desire to see it. Perhaps on some rainy day down the road I'll take it in for giggles' sake ... should I ever get that brave. If I do, then I'll be happy to share my thoughts on it. For now, these humble words will have to do.
This big budget miscalculation from the Mouse House gave an entire roster of A-list talent to have egg on their faces, and maybe -- just maybe -- such failures are needed from time-to-time to remind both the makers and the would-be watchers that it ain't as easy as pie assembling the usual fare. From what I can recall in the press, it might be safe to suggest that this was the first true D.E.I. attempt behind-the-scenes, and perhaps critical darling Ava DuVernay shouldn't have been the first choice to helm such a daunting adventure. Google.com estimates that the film lost Disney somewheres upwards of $130 million while tarnishing the screen reputations of Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and Chris Pine along the way ... and one might think someone would've noticed what a disaster this was before it hit screens.
No, no, and no: yours truly has not seen it, so I cannot attest to any of the film's highs and lows, but I'll also admit I've no real desire to see it. Perhaps on some rainy day down the road I'll take it in for giggles' sake ... should I ever get that brave. If I do, then I'll be happy to share my thoughts on it. For now, these humble words will have to do.
Often, I have to remind readers that I don't often agree with the general consensus. No, no, and no: I don't disagree out of spite or any such tactic. But if I disagree, then I'm willing to back up my position with my impression of any certain project just to show my take is my own.
That said, 1984's Repo Man is another project that I don't quite understand the praise. While its story is an interesting idea and the film boasts an occasional good scene or a bit of good work, I just found it so plain that I couldn't quite get into its subversive vibe. I will admit that I haven't seen this one since the 1980's so maybe it's one I might reconsider at some point. I do recall thinking at the time that the concept was very cool and yet the film didn't quite seem to do much with it. I suppose some of my disappointment could be owed to my expecting something different -- especially with the premise of finding a dead alien body in a trunk -- but what do I know?
Also, I know it's a bit of SciFi satire, and I've personally found that doesn't always ring true for me. But it did have a solid cast, including Emilio Estevez, Harry Dean Stanton, and Tracey Walter in prime shape, so let's always be thankful for small miracles. If it tickled your fancy, then that's great to hear! That's sometimes the best we can get in return to our time spent with any flick.
That said, 1984's Repo Man is another project that I don't quite understand the praise. While its story is an interesting idea and the film boasts an occasional good scene or a bit of good work, I just found it so plain that I couldn't quite get into its subversive vibe. I will admit that I haven't seen this one since the 1980's so maybe it's one I might reconsider at some point. I do recall thinking at the time that the concept was very cool and yet the film didn't quite seem to do much with it. I suppose some of my disappointment could be owed to my expecting something different -- especially with the premise of finding a dead alien body in a trunk -- but what do I know?
Also, I know it's a bit of SciFi satire, and I've personally found that doesn't always ring true for me. But it did have a solid cast, including Emilio Estevez, Harry Dean Stanton, and Tracey Walter in prime shape, so let's always be thankful for small miracles. If it tickled your fancy, then that's great to hear! That's sometimes the best we can get in return to our time spent with any flick.
And here we are once again, kiddies, wherein we reach that part of the daily blog wherein I inform you that there's more -- there's a lot more, in fact -- awaiting your discovery. Each and every one of you are encouraged to head on over to the Daily Citation Page and search for that which warms your heart individually, as no one should ever be expected to settle just for my two cents. I'll give them anyway -- 'cause that's kinda/sorta my gig -- but to each his own when it comes to finding the good, the bad, and the ugly in each and every day of our shared existence.
With that, here it is ...
As always, thank you for reading ... thank you for sharing ... thank you for being a fan ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
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